Zainul’s work has broken all previous records for Bangladeshi art at an auction

Entertainment Desk:

The legacy of Zainul Abedin, often hailed as Shilpacharya and the father of modern art in Bangladesh, has reached new international heights. Zainul’s work has broken all previous records for Bangladeshi art at an auction, with one of his paintings selling for a staggering US $692,048 at Sotheby’s in New York.

At the Modern & Contemporary South Asian Art auction, held by the prestigious Sotheby’s on Thursday (September 26), Abedin’s Untitled painting, a masterful example of his ink and wash technique, fetched approximately Tk 8.27 crore. This historic sale marks the highest price ever paid for a Bangladeshi artwork, underscoring Abedin’s growing influence on the global art market.

The painting, which dates back to 1970, holds a special personal history. It was originally gifted by Abedin to Cedomil Plazek, a hydrogeologist working with the United Nations in Dhaka. The artist’s signature and date adorn the piece, symbolizing his deep connection with Plazek, who was also the recipient of another record-breaking Abedin painting at the same auction.

Another of Abedin’s works, Untitled (Group of Figures), an oil-on-canvas from 1971, sold for US $643,690 (around Tk 7.69 crore). This piece, too, was gifted to Plazek and reflects Abedin’s profound ability to capture human emotions and forms, a recurring theme in his work.

RECORD-BREAKING SALES CONTINUE FOR ZAINUL ABEDIN

Sotheby’s revealed that a third painting by the artist, Untitled (Figures), fetched US $289,663 (around Tk 3.46 crore). This piece, created with ink and pencil on paper, was signed and dated Zainul / 25/5/70 / Jordan, and demonstrates Abedin’s exceptional sensitivity to the human condition.

These sales are the latest in a series of record-breaking achievements for Zainul’s works, which have steadily gained value and recognition on the international stage. Earlier this year, two other paintings by the legendary artist achieved remarkable prices at auction. His 1963 oil painting Untitled (Couple), depicting a Santal couple, sold for US $381,000 (approximately Tk 4.16 crore), while another Untitled piece of a woman at rest in a sky-blue saree and scarlet bangles fetched US $279,400 (around Tk 3.05 crore).

These paintings were part of the Jamsheed K Marker and Diana J Marker estate, a collection that brought to light several lesser-known works by Abedin. The Marker family, known for their prominence in diplomatic circles, owned these pieces for decades before they were presented at auction by Sotheby’s.